Page 21 of Bride ’N Boots

“Excuse me?”

“Who was she?” I demanded. “Because I know there was someone else. Your reluctance to leave Seattle . . . but now you suddenly want to move to Coeur d’Alene to be with me? No, I don’t buy it.”

“It was meaningless,” he finally admitted with an exhale. “I swear. She moved to Beijing two weeks ago and⁠—”

“And I’m your back up plan,” I snapped. “Well, I’ve got news for you. You can move to Coeur d’Alene if you want. But I won’t be moving in with you. You and I are done.”

Anger and resentment about putting my life on hold took me by the throat and gave me a hearty shake, and then something came loose.

My filter.

“And just so you know—you’re a terrible lay.”

I hung up the phone, my cheeks blistering with heat.

A wooden plank creaked behind me.

I stiffened and turned around. Slowly.

The Calhoun brothers were standing on the porch of the house. And they’d clearly heard everything I’d said.

“Uh, sorry. Didn’t seem like a good idea to interrupt and let you know we were here,” Garrett said with a wide grin.

“We were on our way to the barn,” Gideon explained, shooting his older brother a look. “And yeah, we’re going now.”

Griffin didn’t even bother saying anything.

The three of them walked down the porch steps and headed to the barn.

I groaned in embarrassment. And then I marched inside the house. Stratton was sitting at the kitchen table and Jo was nowhere to be found.

“Where’s Jo?” I asked.

“Her daughter called.” He looked at me. “You okay?”

“Whiskey,” I stated. “I need whiskey.”

Stratton rose. “I know just the place.”

CHAPTER TEN

Stratton helped me out of the truck and led me up the steps to his cabin. Nerves swirled in my belly, but then he said, “I have good whiskey, this place is private, and the Copper Mule isn’t open yet.”

“Because it’s early afternoon,” I muttered. “This is just great.”

“I’ll drink with you,” he said. “So you won’t be alone.”

“You’re either a good friend or a terrible influence,” I quipped.

He unlocked the front door and pushed it open, letting me go inside first.

It was one large room with a kitchen and living space. The bed was in the far corner and neatly made with a tartan throw. A wood stove was in the opposite corner.

“Cute,” I said.

“Small. But it’s all I need.”

“You mind if I use your bathroom?” I asked. “I want to wash my face.”